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Editors note: In an ongoing feature, David Andersen explores the possibilities of a match between Chris Weidman and Alan Belcher. Both have been in the headlines recently and this is a fans’ take on this fight scenario. Tell us what you think in the comments portion of this page. You can contact David Andersen on his twitter @topherandersen for more MMA-related topics.
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It’s simple, really. Who is left? Weidman and his camp are petitioning for the winner of Michael
Bisping vs Brian Stann, but that fight makes no sense. Both Bisping and Stann recently lost to
Chael Sonnen. Bisping is notorious for having a lackluster track record against any ranked
middleweight. His only real tests have been Chael Sonnen and Dan Henderson, and while the
former was a closer, controversial fight, the latter solidifies why Bisping is not ready to fight
Anderson Silva. His chin would be an easy target for Silva, and the fight would end in Vitor
Belfort-like immediacy. Bisping’s recent track record has a number of names who have not fared
too well in the Octagon. Denis Kang, Yoshihiro Akiyama, Dan Miller, and Jorge Rivera to name a
few. While Akiyama has a “victory” over Alan Belcher via controversial split decision, it does not
make the case for Bisping to jump Belcher in contendership or overall ranking. Belcher’s only
loss in the last three years was to Akiyama in their memorable slugfest from UFC 100, which
won the pair Fight of the Night honors on a stacked card full of memorable fights.
The call is smart for Weidman. He avoids a fighter who has a solid stand up game and a ground
game that made him confident enough to jump into Rousimar Palhares feared ground game,
only to win by TKO over the leg lock specialist. It seems as though, like Sonnen, Bisping has
been able to talk himself up the ranks of the UFC, rather than fight his way up (see loss to
Wanderlei Silva). This does not benefit die hard UFC fans. I believe that a Belcher/Weidman
matchup would mean HUGE fireworks and a great lead in for a middleweight title shot. I will bet
either FOTN, SOTN, or KOTN. This may be a little self-serving, but hey, why can’t it be?
Weidman’s rise to the top of the middleweight ranks has been meteoric in nature, but he has
done nothing but prove his worth, winning three of five UFC outings by stoppage. While I agree
that he might not quite be ready for Anderson Silva, I believe his is ready to prove he can
maintain his rise. A fight with Belcher would do just this. This frees up the winner of
Bisping/Stann for Tim Boetsch, while the loser could draw the loser of the seemingly imminent
Hector Lombard/ Mark Munoz matchup. And, to get a little over analytical, it would then make
sense to pair Yushin Okami with the winner of that fight (hopefully Lombard, to avoid having
Okami/Munoz II).
edit: Weidman now says he is waiting to fight the winner of Bisping/Stann to allow ongoing elbow
ailments to heal. Point stands. Fight Belcher when his spinal fracture is healed and then you may
have your title shot.
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